Quality Engineer Associate Jobs in Fort Wayne, IN

Job Title: Quality Engineer

Job Description

This Quality Engineer role focuses on driving product and process excellence in a fast-paced Tier 1 automotive environment. The position serves as a key liaison between the manufacturing floor and multiple OEM customers, ensuring that quality standards are consistently met and customer concerns are resolved quickly and accurately. The Quality Engineer will own quality performance for an extrusion-to-final-product manufacturing line, applying core automotive quality tools and engineering fundamentals to prevent defects, improve processes, and support continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact for OEM customers on quality-related matters, managing customer interactions professionally and proactively.
• Handle customer complaints efficiently and accurately, from initial response through resolution and documentation.
• Spend at least 50% of working time on the manufacturing floor troubleshooting quality issues and supporting real-time problem solving.
• Take full quality responsibility for an assigned production line, from initial extrusion processes through to the finished product.
• Work directly with Floor Supervisors and Process Engineers to conduct root cause analysis and implement effective corrective actions.
• Apply automotive quality functions and methodologies, including PPAP, APQP, PFMEA, and corrective action processes, to maintain and improve product quality.
• Review and maintain quality documentation related to manufacturing processes, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and compliance with customer and industry requirements.
• Use engineering fundamentals to analyze process performance, identify trends, and recommend improvements to reduce defects and variability.
• Support the preparation and submission of PPAP documentation to OEM customers, ensuring all requirements are met.
• Participate in cross-functional problem-solving activities to address recurring issues and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure deadlines for quality deliverables and customer commitments are met.
• Promote a culture of accountability, high performance, and passion for quality across the production line and supporting teams.

Essential Skills

• Proven experience performing core automotive quality functions, including PPAP, APQP, PFMEA, and corrective actions.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes, quality documentation, and engineering fundamentals.
• At least 5 years of experience as a Quality Engineer within a Tier 1 automotive supplier environment.
• Experience working directly with OEM customers in the automotive sector and managing customer interactions on quality topics.
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills with hands-on experience troubleshooting issues on the manufacturing floor.
• Ability to conduct thorough root cause analysis and implement effective corrective and preventive actions.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (such as Mechanical, Industrial, or Manufacturing Engineering) or a related technical field; an associate degree is required and a bachelor’s degree is preferred.
• Ability to work in a high-intensity, deadline-driven environment while maintaining attention to detail and quality standards.
• Strong communication skills for collaborating with Floor Supervisors, Process Engineers, and customer representatives.
• Passion for quality and continuous improvement, with a strong drive to advance both personal capabilities and team performance.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering (BSME), Industrial Engineering (BSIE), or Mechanical Engineering Technology (BSMET) is highly desirable.
• Experience working with Honda or other Japanese automotive companies as customers is a plus.
• Experience in automotive manufacturing and Tier 1 supplier operations.
• Familiarity with OEM-specific quality requirements and documentation standards.
• Ability to thrive in a highly accountable environment and consistently meet tight deadlines.
• Strong customer service mindset with the ability to build and maintain productive relationships with OEM contacts.

Work Environment

The role is based in a highly intense and accountable Tier 1 automotive manufacturing environment where meeting tight deadlines and strict quality requirements is critical. Work is performed in a clean, well-lit facility located in central Fort Wayne, with significant time spent on the production floor collaborating closely with operations and engineering teams. The environment emphasizes precision, responsiveness to customer needs, and a strong commitment to continuous improvement and operational excellence.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Fort Wayne, IN.

The pay range for this position is $40.00 - $42.50/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in Fort Wayne,IN.

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 31, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications withoutregard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protectedby law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification oradjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability,please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in thecity and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicantswith arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as acondition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this lawshall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process,including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applicationsand qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, youacknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.